Business Development Associate

KEP Electric/ IES RESIDENTIAL; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Pay

Company Paid Time Off

Company 401K plan with Employer Contribution Match

Choice of Medical and Dental Coverage

Life Insurance

Job summary

A leading electrical and HVAC solutions provider in Cincinnati is seeking a Business Development Associate to enhance customer relationships and support field operations. This role requires strong communication skills, the ability to independently manage relationships, and a commitment to customer satisfaction. Ideal candidates will possess problem-solving abilities and organizational skills. The position involves regular travel and collaboration with internal teams, offering a full compensation package including health benefits and 401K options.

Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in English.
• Highly organized, self-motivated, and capable of working independently.
• Ability to problem-solve and address customer needs.
• Willingness to travel within assigned markets.

Responsibilities

• Strengthen customer relationships and support field operations.
• Ensure end-to-end customer satisfaction and track metrics.
• Collaborate with internal teams for operations feedback.
• Document customer interactions and required follow-ups.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Relationship-building

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Problem-solving

Tools

CRM systems

Job description

General Job Description

The Business Development Associate is responsible for strengthening customer relationships, supporting field operations, and driving growth within assigned markets. The role serves as the primary liaison between customers and internal teams, ensuring that construction, purchasing, and warranty partners receive exceptional service, timely communication, and consistent follow‑through.

Key Responsibilities

Lead Management and Customer Relations

• Develop an understanding of the market and the major players within the customer base.
• Use tools such as Zonda and business journals to increase market knowledge and awareness.
• Attend IES training sessions and ride along with KEP personnel to gain knowledge of all three trades and KEP operations.
• Attend industry trade events for networking and market awareness.
• Maintain strong long‑term relationships with construction, purchasing, and warranty teams to ensure work meets scheduling and quality guidelines.
• Allocate time approximately as follows:
  • 45% with construction teams
  • 45% with purchasing teams
  • 10% with warranty teams
• Attend construction and purchasing meetings to ensure delivery of the quality expected from KEP.
• Build and maintain a schedule to periodically meet with customers across assigned cities through scheduled visits and drop‑ins.
• Utilize approved sales assets to provide occasional meals, donuts, or other small appreciation items for customers.
• Organize quarterly luncheons with construction and purchasing teams to gather feedback and strengthen relationships.
• Maintain a schedule of four days in the field and one day in the office for internal and external collaboration.

Customer Experience & Retention

• Ensure end‑to‑end customer satisfaction.
• Track and report insights gathered from customer discussions to the KEP team.
• Follow up on the resolution of any issues to ensure proper closure.
• Track customer satisfaction metrics and assist in implementing improvement plans when necessary.

Collaboration with Internal Teams

• Attend weekly meetings to review findings from the previous week and outline the upcoming schedule.
• Share feedback and insights from customer meetings with the KEP team.
• Escalate urgent matters to the appropriate internal team members.
• Provide weekly feedback on pricing discussions uncovered during customer meetings or calls.
• Collaborate with internal teams and market managers to ensure operations are moving in the right direction.

Reporting & Documentation

• Use CRM systems to maintain accurate and up‑to‑date records.
• Document customer interactions and required follow‑up actions.
• Add and update project information as it becomes available.
• Maintain accurate monthly expense reporting and documentation.

Minimum Education

None

Minimum Years Of Experience

2–4

Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal and relationship‑building skills.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in English, both verbally and in writing, with field personnel, customers, and internal teams.
• Highly organized, self‑motivated, and capable of working independently in a field‑based role.
• Ability to problem‑solve, ask thoughtful questions, and follow through on customer needs.
• Prior experience in construction, business development, customer service, or a related field is preferred but not required.
• Willingness to travel within assigned markets.

Work Environment

• This role is primarily field‑based, with regular visits to construction sites, customer offices, and industry events.
• Work will take place in a combination of construction environments, office settings, and occasional outdoor conditions.
• The position typically follows a schedule of four days in the field and one day in the office.
• Occasional early morning or evening meetings may occur depending on customer schedules or industry events.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to walk construction sites and navigate uneven terrain.
• Ability to stand or walk for extended periods during site visits or meetings.
• Ability to drive frequently between customer locations within assigned markets.
• Ability to occasionally lift or carry items up to approximately 25 pounds (marketing materials, refreshments, etc.).
• Ability to use a computer, mobile phone, and CRM tools for reporting and communication.

License Required

Yes

Job Locations

US‑OH‑Cincinnati

Company Overview

IES Residential, Inc. is one of the nation's largest and most respected electrical, plumbing, HVAC, solar, and cable solutions providers for single‑family homes and multi‑family complexes since 1973. We provide comprehensive integrated solutions that light up our world. IES is a national provider of industrial products and infrastructure services to a variety of end markets, including electrical, mechanical and communications contracting solutions for the commercial, industrial, residential and renewable energy markets. IES is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol IESC. As of the end of IES’s 2024 fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, IES produced over $2.8 billion in revenue and employed over 9,400 employees at over 131 domestic locations across the United States. IES is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer: Minorities, Females, Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation, Individuals with Disabilities, Protected Veterans encouraged to apply.

Benefits

• Safety is Priority One – our record shows it
• Competitive Pay
• Company 401K plan with Employer Contribution Match
• Company Paid Time Off
• Company Paid Life Insurance
• Choice of Medical Coverage including Prescription and Short Term Disability Plans
• Choice of Dental and Vision Coverage
• Optional Long‑term Disability, Critical Illness, Accident, Legal and Pet Coverage
• Auto and Home Insurance Discount Programs

EEO Statement

PLEASE NO AGENCY CALLS. NOTE TO ALL AGENCIES: Any unsolicited agency resumes or agency represented candidates that are presented to any IES employee without first having a signed contract between that agency and the IES Talent Acquisition organization will become the property of IES and no fees will be paid.

EEO & Affirmative Action

The IES policy on equal employment opportunity prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, individuals with disabilities, protected veterans, or any other protected status or characteristic. This policy applies to recruiting, hiring, transfers, promotions, terminations, compensation, benefits, and all other terms and conditions of employment, and also states that retaliation against any employee who files a complaint regarding possible violations of this policy will not be tolerated. IES is also committed to taking affirmative steps to promote the employment of minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and protected veterans. IES develops affirmative action programs to support its commitment to equal employment opportunity, consistent with company policy and the company’s obligations as a contractor to the United States government.

Disability Accommodation

IES is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. IES provides reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Applicants who need accommodation in the job application process should contact the IES corporate office at (713) 860‑1500 or any IES office to request assistance.

IES Participates in E‑Verify

E‑Verify Information

Languages

English/Spanish

Right to Work

English
Spanish